Brinkworth Koolunga Sub-branch of the Returned Sailor’s and Soldier’s Imperial League of Australia received its charter of membership in 1919, just three years after the establishment of the national organisation. In 1946 it became the Brinkworth, Koolunga and Yacka Sub-branch.

Unfortunately the Ladies Auxiliary that was formed in 1958 is no longer active. It was closed down in 2008.

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE

The Anzac Day Dawn Service is now a major event for the Brinkworth, Koolunga, Yacka RSL

It is getting larger each year and we hope that this will increase as the years go on. 2015 will mark 100 years since the landing of our Troops at Gallipoli so the 25th of April will be a big day for RSL Clubs all over Australia

We also run a raffle to raise funds for the upkeep to the RSL Club. The raffle is drawn after the ANZAC Day Dawn Service breakfast.

The Brinkworth/Koolunga/Yacka branch of the RSL wound up 2006 with a celebratory dinner at the Junction Hotel at Brinkworth, Thursday December 7.

The dinner is an annual occasion on the RSL calendar but this year was even more special when respected member Murray Burnley of Brinkworth was presented with his life membership from RSL State vice president, Will Clough.

Mr Burnley enlisted with the Royal Australian Navy in 1940, at the age of 17, with the consent of his parents and a Justice of the Peace and, after serving overseas for almost four years, He joined the Balaklava branch of the RSL. He then joined the Brinkworth/Koolunga/Yacka branch in 1953 when he moved to Brinkworth with his wife, Shirley.

Highly regarded amongst fellow RSL members and the Brinkworth community, Mr Burnley has been a dedicated member, continuing to serve the RSL with intense dignity and pride, which lead him to be presented with his life membership. At the end of December he completed his 14th consecutive balance sheet in his role as secretary/treasurer. Prior to fulfilling that position he was president for three years and was also instrumental in orchestrating the building of the Brinkworth clubrooms in 1957.

Not usually known for being stuck for words, an emotional Mr Burnley humbly accepted his presentation from Mr Clough in front of friends and colleagues at the dinner.

Mr Burnley’s life membership was the first to be presented to a member of the Brinkworth/Koolunga/Yacka branch purely in recognition for services rendered to his local branch and the RSL, and is one that is truly well deserved.

Mr Clough resides at Riverton and presented the life membership on behalf of the RSL National Executive at Canberra.

RSL LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDED TO COLIN CYRIL ADAMS (Commonly known as Squid).

Mr Adams enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces on the 23rd April 1941 at the age of 21. He did all of his training (4 months) at Woodside just outside Adelaide S.A. He was then sent to Melbourne where he and his unit, the 2/10 Reinforcement Battalion, embarked on an old Dutch troopship for the Middle East. After a trip of 3 weeks his unit disembarked at Port Suez in Egypt.

After a campaign of 20 months in the Middle East, Squid returned to Australia for 3 weeks well earned leave. On completion of his leave he was then sent to fight in New Guinea to the North of Australia.

He was in New Guinea for approx 5 months and then returned to Australia and was discharged from the service in Oct 1944, as his father was not well and was running the farm with one of Squid's brothers and finding it very difficult to manage.

Squid served in the Army for 1167 days, 743 of these being outside Australia.

Squid joined the Brinkworth Koolunga Yacka RSL in 1944 and has been a member to this day.

He was President of the club in the 1960s.

Mr Clough also presented Squid with his Life Membership at the Christmas Dinner in 2008 and Squid was lost for words as he did not know he was to be presented with this honour.

Mr Clough presented the life membership on behalf of the RSL National Executive at Canberra.